About me

Sometimes it's not very easy being human, especially in the pressurised, instantly connected world we now live in. Do you feel exhausted, stressed or that you just don't fit in? It's hardly surprising. We are now overwhelmed by information, targets, responsibilities and expectations. The modern world we have created is sometimes a place we don't belong in...counselling may help.

I am a BACP registered, Relate trained counsellor, with seven years of experience. I have worked with both individuals and couples.

The age range of the clients I see is anywhere between 25 and 65 years of age. I've worked with a variety of ethnicities and cultures and with both straight and gay sexual orientations. I have a lot of experience and some of the areas I can help with:

depression

anxiety

bereavement

relationship issues

couple conflict / arguments

communication difficulties

family issues.

If you decide to see me?If you were to come into counselling with me, I'd conduct an initial session half price to see what issues are being presented. If we decide we can work together, we would then meet regularly, at the same time and on the same day each week.

I would approach your situation looking at two broad aspects:

- 'The Big Outside', which concerns relationships in the present, your culture and beliefs and how these support or frustrate your life.

- 'The Big Inside' which refers to the past, your upbringing and relationships with parents and siblings, which then helped to shape you.

How does this work?A counselling room is a calm, neutral setting where you can be yourself; you won't be criticised, you won't be judged. A counsellor will accept you as you are, and will allow you to express yourself in perhaps a way you haven't been able to before.

Your counsellor will listen, understand and then reflect that understanding back to you. It is then that you may see your situation differently and begin to explore the possibilities before you.

How long? Therapy can be short term lasting for 6 to 8 weeks to long term lasting for 3 or 4 months. I work at the your pace - you can decide when you've reached your outcome, and you know when it's time to end.

Why come to Counselling?Counselling can offer you the time and space to reflect on your situation and perhaps see it differently.

Counselling can support you through particularly painful or challenging periods of your life. It can allow you to discuss options that you previously wouldn't have considered. You may even decide to try one or two of them out...and get positive results.

Counselling can allow you to change yourself and in so doing your relationships and life... perhaps for the better. The person that would know this would be you.

The impetus to come into counselling is often because people are distressed, can't cope or don't feel they fit in. However, what keeps them returning to counselling is the rewards of the process itself. The experience of being actively listened to, of understanding one's life differently and the ability to explore and adopt new ways of being. It can lead to change. People are often frightened of change but once they've embraced it rarely, look back.